How to Play Goalie in Indoor Soccer

Playing indoor soccer is a lot of fun. Compared to outdoor soccer, which requires a lot a skill and experience, indoor soccer is more open to the recreational athlete just looking to have a good time with some friends. There's generally five players on the indoor field, plus a goalie. Being an indoor soccer goalie is by far the most challenging position, considering the large number of shots taken and the high score of most indoor soccer games. Playing goalie can also be a total blast, as long as you keep a few things in mind.

Things You'll Need

Indoor soccer shoes

Shin guards

Jersey

Shorts

Pads (optional)

Playing indoor soccer goalie

Guard your goal with your life. The goal in indoor soccer is small and it often doesn't pay to take many risks that involve leaving the immediate vicinity of the goal. If there's a breakaway and you need to come out a bit, make sure to extend your body fully by diving or leaping so that the net is never left open. Otherwise, stay close to home and bat the ball away with a passion.

Play the walls. Unlike the outdoor sport, in indoor soccer there are walls and the ball rarely goes out of bounds. A little bit like hockey, this can often lead to fortuitous ricochets where the offense ends up with an easy shot or a header right in front of the goal. Always keep in mind that a desperate or crafty offense will use the walls to their advantage in creating unlikely scoring opportunities. If you can play the ball off the wall, you have a good chance of blocking these opportunities before they develop into much.

Direct your teammates. The indoor soccer arena is small enough that everyone can hear everyone else where ever they are on the field. As a goalie it's your job to let your teammates know where to position themselves on the field in order to be most useful -- especially the defensive players. Often times players in the field will lose track of their location or players on the other team and it's the goalie's job to remind them of these important facts.

Tips & Warnings

Make sure to practice your throw. A good throw can create a lot of offensive opportunities for your team.